Film signaling device for cameras



Dec. 25' 1928 F. W. GAGE Er AL FILI SIGNALING DEVICE FOR CAMERAS .m m l XW W M 36W. f WW 0E w Filed April 20. 1926 Dec. 25, 1928.

F. W. GAGE ET AL FILI SIGNALING DEVICE FOR CAMERAS Filed April 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

/l/.fer 14./ Emma F. XN. GAGE ET AL.

FILI SIGNALING DEVICE FOR CAIBRS Dd; 25,-192a.'

med April 20. 1926 :s snets-snen ALET M 7NoeE/w Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

`UNlTED STATES y 1,696,533 PATENT carica.n

FRED W. GAGE, F L08 ANGELES, A ND ALBERT W. TONDBEAU, OF GLENDALE,

' CALIFORNIA.

FILM BIGNALIHG DEVICE FOB C Application med April 20, 1926. Serial No. 103,828.

Our invention relates to signaling deviceafor cameras, for indicating whether a film frame has or has not been exposed, so as to preclude the double exposing of the I film frame or-the non-exposing thereof-. A. purpose of our invention 4is the vision of a film signaling device of the a ve described character which is capable of being applied to cameras of conventional con struction with'only a slight structural modification of the present camera,'and which when applied operates throu opening of the shutter to signal or in lcate when a particular film frame has been exposed, the l5 device being operable upon actuation of thc film winding mechanism to move a film frame into position to signal or indicate that the new film frame has not beenexposed. In this. manner, the device is automatically Operable to indicate the condition of a film frame with regard to exposure, so that the 'double or blank exposure of film` frames is precluded.

We will describe onl one form of lm lsignaling device embo ying our invention and its adaptation to a conventional form of camera, and will then point out the nove features thereof in-c1aims.

In the accompanyin drawings,

Figure 1 is a view s owing in side elevation a camera having applied thereto one form of film signaling device embodying our` invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the camera shown in Figure 1 with a portion of the signaling device in applied position thereto;

Figure 3 is a view showing in front elevation the lens and shutter mechanism of the camera, with the signaling device applied thereto audpartly in section;

on the line 4 -4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the signaling device in front elevation and in one ofthe positions which it is adapted to 5 occupy;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5;

Figu showing another position which the signaling device is adapted to occupy;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view takenre 7 is a view similar to Figure 5,'

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Similar reference characters refer to. similar parts in each of t-he several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings,

our invention, in its present embodiment, is shown applied to a' conventional form of- .folding camera having the usual lmwind- 4ing means and shutter actuating mechanism.

The signaling device comprises a bevel gear 15 (Figure 2) having a splined connection with a stub shaft 16, the latter being conventional and adapted for actuation by a key 17 to rotate thevihn winding reel (not shown). Through ythe medium of the key 17 the gear 15 is rotated during the film Winding operation to actuate a pinion 18 constantly meshing therewith and operativelyA connected to one end of the flexible shaft 19 extending into a suitable opening 20 formed in one side of the camera casing. -A collar 21 is secured within the casing to form a rotatable support for the pinion 18 and to maintain the latter inmeshing relation to the gear 15. As shown in Figure l, a pawl 22 engages the gear 15 so as to permit rotation of the latter in one direction only or in that direction in which the film reel is rotated to cause winding of the film thereon.

The flexible shaft 19 is extended forwardly from the camera casing for operative connection vwith a shaft 23 journaled in a U- shaped frame 24. As clearly. shown in Figures 4 and 5, the frame 24 is provided .with a depending lip 25 which is secured to the lens board 26 of the camera and in so as to be practically within the range of vision of the o erator when looking into the finder. This ame 24 is provided with a bearing 28 in which the rounded end portion of the shaft 23 is `ournaled, the remainder of the shaft, wit the exception of the opposite end thereof, being squared in cross section and having mounted thereon a plurality of cam members integrally formed with respect to each other and slidable longitudinallyon the shaftand rotatable therewith. By referring to Figures 4 to 8, inelusive, the construction of this cam member will be apparent.

One cammember 29 is of disk form and concentrically mounted on f' the shaft 23. At the right side of this cam' member 29 is a second cam member 30 of nvate form and disposed eccentrically withrespect to the shaft 23 in such manner that its high Apoint flush with the periphery of the cam member 29. The third cam member 3l is greatly reduced in diameter with respect to the other 'cam-members, and it is disposed concentrically of the shaft 23 in such manner that a portion of the periphery of the cam member is flush with a portionoi' 'the calmV member 31.

The three cam members constitute a cam unit-which isniovable longitudinally on the shaft occupy two extreme positions andan intermediate position'. The cam unit is' norni-aily'urged to one extreme position orl'to-'the-position shown in Figure 7 by j'means oa'spring -32 interposed between one .=,.endf0ff the iframe 24 vand the upper end of a 'fndi'catedvat 34 'and extending' upwardlyv through-la-suitable' slot' formed in the bot leveri33 u'lcrumed in the frame at the point ltomoff'the frame. This" lever 33 is provided at; itsjupper 'endwith an angularly disposed finger. 35 -which engages a shifting collar 36, ormedintegral'with the cam 29. In this 'imanner theretractionof the spring 32 is vpermit/tedthrough .the lever, finger' and shitingcollar to the cam unit-,so that the re 3Q The ower end-of thev lever rating mechanism so that its is in engagement with a cam .f strap 40 movable verticallyv by an eccentric A41 constitutingpart of a conventional shutter opcratinfr mechanism. The shutter opmating-mechanism is adapted to be set by V-movexnent ofA a lever 42 and to be actuated he sides 'of the frame 24 are formed with to effect the exposure of a film by movement of av lever 43.

@As shown vin Figure 6, the upper ends of grooves 44 in which are slidable tongues 45 ...formed on -the ends of a signaling plate 46.

:In this manner, the signaling plate is. 'f-n mounted for sliding movement within the frame to occupy either Aof two extreme poa 'sitions -';.;legend Exposed is dis layed within the In one osition of the plate the slot 47 of a cover 48, whi e in the other extreme position the legend Unexposed is displayed within the slot.

These two legs arezprinted or otherwise affixed to the signaling plate and when one is displayed the other is concealed, as will be clear by referring to Figure 2. Interposed between the cover 48 and the-signalin plateA is a glass plate 49 constituting a win ow through .which the legends can be seen when displayed within the slot` The cover 48 extends downwardly to opposite sides of the frame shown.

24 so as to completely enclose themechanism within the frame.

The signaling plate 46 is normally urged rearwardly to theposition shown in Figure 6 b means of a spring 50 mounted on a stu 5l of the frame 24 and having an upwardly extending finger 52 which engages the forward edge of the signaling plate, as In this rearniost position of the signaling plate, the legend Exposed is dislayed, but when the `plate is-moved to its oremost position, as shown in Figure 8, the legend-I nex'posed is displayed. To move the signaling plate to either of these signalinpositions, an arm 53 is xed to the'plate acted upon by the cam until in accordance with movements of the latter,"is' controlled by rotation of 'theshaft 23 through the film winding means, and actuation of the lever 33 through the shutter operating mechanism. The arm 53 is disposed to engage the peripheries of the cam members.

The operation of the signaling devices is as followsz' Let it be assumed that the lever 43 has just been moved to actuate the'shutter to expose a film frame. The signaling plate now occupies the position shown in igure 4, in which the legend Exposed is displayed, thus indicating to the operator that the film frame has been exposed; In this position of the signaling plate, the cam unit occupies the position shown Ain Figure 3, in which the arm 53 is in engagement with the periphery of the small cam member 31, and further-in engagement'with the adjacent side of the cam member 30, so las to hold the cam' unit against further movement to the right as when viewed in Figure 3, under the action of the spring 32. U on actuationof the film winding key 17 to ring a new film frame into position, the shaft 23 is rotated in a clockwise direction as when viewed in Figurel 4, thereby rotating the cam unit until that portion of the cam member 31 which is flush with the periphery of the cam member 30 is opposite the arm 53 when the arm no longer serves to prevent movement of the cam unit under the action of the spring 32, so that the cam unit is moved bodily tc the position shown in Figure 5. In this position of the cam unit,l the arm 53 is disposed on the periphery of the cam member 30 and in contact with the adjacent side of the cam member'29. Upon continued rotation of the shaft 23, the cam member 30 is actuated to move the arm 53 forwardly against the tension of the sprin finger 52 carrying with it the signaling p ate 46, so that when the arm has reached the highest point of the cam member the plate has been returned to its -foremost position shown in Figure 8, in which the legend Unexposed is now displayedl As the arm 53 reaches vthe highest point on the cam member 30, such portion of the cam member being flush with the pe- 'L in) riphery` of the cam member 29 prevents the arm from further restricting lateral move- 'fment of the cam unit so that the latter moves l. to. the positionshown in F igure-' under theA .5 actionazef the spring 32. It will be understood that during the described movement of l: the'cam 4unit to the right, the lever 33 is By actuating the signaling plate with initial w1nding of the'film, it will be manifest that 2,0vsubsequent windingmovement is inefective to actuate the-.signaling device, thus permit- Y ting the device to be used in connection with "i Iilms havingframes of different lengths.

. Upon lcompletion of the film -winding 252 movement to move the new film frame -iiito positionthe cam isnow ready for a succeeding operation, ywith .the4 signaling "device clearly l.indicating :that that film` frame is 4uneirposed.-.-B 'firsts-:settingvv the .shutter 30 through actuation'- of the lever 42, the shuttervis actuated to expose the'flm-fr'ame by oper v ation oflthe lever'43, and lduring such` opera- :tion thelstrap 140 iselevated under; theA rota- @tive mov-ement'of the eccentric l41 toelevate i-the lower end of the lever and thus actufrom-the position., shown in Fi re 7 to the .v tplosition shown iii- Figure .3, an through thenger .35 on the-"shifting collar 36 to move 40 the cam against the tension-of the spring 32 to the left hand extreme Figure 3. The arm 53- oes not interfere with .thejust described movement of the cam iinit as the cams are not rotated but merely yshifted laterally, and hence the arm slides from one cam member to the other under the action of the spring 5() until it engages the cam 31. During this movement of the arm 53, the signaling plate 46 isreturned to 5o its rearmost position, in which thenlegend- Exposed is now displa ed. In this manner,` the signaling device is actuated .to indicate that the film frame has been exposed followin an operation-of the shutter.

Alt ough we have herein described and shown only one form of film si aling device embodying our invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims. We claim as our invention: v

1. A film signal device for cameras comprising a signal element movable'to occu y two signaling positions, yieldable means or cause quick actuation of the cam members in moving theiarm 53 to its foremost-position.

osition shown in urging the signal element to' one signaling position, means for moving the signal element to and'maintaining it in the other signaling position, means adapted for operation by a shutter mechanism for rendering the second means ineffective to maintain the signal elementl in the other signaling position, and meansadapted for operation by a lm winding means .for -actuating the second means to return the signal element to the other signaling` position", the-second means 'bein' 'capable of l lateral movement fby the thir means to render thesecond means ineffective, and capable of rotary movementby 'fthe fourth-means to returnl thesignal element to the other-si position;

2. A film signal device or cameras comprising a signal element mounted forsliding movementto occupy either -of 'two signaling positions, .means for' vurging -the signal. element to one signaling position, a'fplurality of rotarl members of graduated diameters Inova le together and laterallywtoccupy either of two extreme positionsfandeurged to one extreme position', an arm-fixed to fthe' signaling element and normally .engaging the 'member of smallest diameter .toreain the rotary vmembers inthe non-urgedz-postions whereby .the signalingelement can? assume its urged osition, -means for I'otatinglthe members w ereby the armis ,actuated-tdsuccessivel engagefand disengagethemembers under t e lateral urging actionofjthe-,mem-

bers, thus moving the s alelement to the non-urgedsignaling position and allowin the members to' return to urged position, an means adapted for' operationby a shutter mechanism for restoringtherotary members to the non-urged position wherein the signaling' element is free to move to urged position. f

` 3. .In a film signaldevice for cameras, a frame, a signaling plate adapted to occupy either of two signaling positions and urged to one signal position, a. shaft journaled in the frame, a plurality of integral cams mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith but movable longitudinally thereon y cams bein of graduated diameters with portions of t eir peripheries in flush relation to each other, means for urging the cams to one extreme position lon 'tudmally on the shaft, an arm fixed to t e signaling plate and normally bearing on the periphery of the smallest cam and engagin the next adjacent .cam to retain all of t e cams in non-urged-{positiom means adapted for operation by a film winding means for rotatf ing the shaft to rotate the cams, whereby said arm is caused to successively engage the cams under the action of said urging means until the arm engages the periphery of the largest caml whereby the arm is actuated to move the signal plate to the non-urged position, and means adapted for operation by a said - rectlon topermit'fmovement of the arm and thus the return -of the signaling plate to so that 'lixedto the signaling plate and bear against the peripheries ofthe camsand` urged position.'

4.. Aiilm signalidevice for cameras comprising a frame, .a lcover for the frame having a slot therein, a transparent window for the slot, a signalin plate slidable in the frame beneath the win ow,.and bearing two legends, said plate being capable of movement-to either of two extreme ositionsin which one legend or the other 1s displayed in said slot7 .a squared shaft journaled in the frame and adapted l for operative connection to a film windin vmeans so that when'said means is actuate the shaft will be rotated, a spring in the frame for-yieldably urging the signaling plate .to one extreme posltion,

a cam unit mounted on and rotatable with the shaft and capable of lateral movement longitudinallyv in either direction on said shaft, said cam unit comprising a relatively large concentric cam, an ovate cam eccentric to the shaft and smaller in diameter than the first cam, and a. third cam concentric with the shaft and of less diameter than the second cam, said cams being arranged ortions of their' peripheries are flush wit those of adjacent cams an arm adapted to to engage the sides of the first two cams to limit the movement of the cam unit in one direction on said shaft, a shifting collar carried by the cam unit, a lever'engaging within the collar, a, spring engaging the lever to normally urge the cam unit in one direction on said shaft, and means b which said lever is adapted for operation by the shut- A ter mechanism of a camera to move the cam unit on the shaft and against the action of said spring.

5. A film signaling device as embodied in claim 4 wherein the means adapted for operation by a film winding means comprises gears and a flexible shaft providing an o erative connection between the gearsan the squared shaft.

6. A film signal device for cameras comprising a signal element mounted for movement to occup either of two signalin positions, means or urging the signal eement to one signaling position, a plurality of rotary members movable together and laterally to occupy either of two extreme positions and urged to one extreme position, means secured to the signaling element and normally .engaging one of the members to retain the members in their non-urged position whereby thesignalelement is free to assume its urged osition, means for rotating the members w ereby the last said means is actuated to successively engage and disengage the members under the lateral urging action ofthe members, thus moving the signal element to the non-urged signaling position and allowing the members to return to urged position, and means adapted 4for operation by a shutter mechanism for restoring the members to their non-urged position wherein the signaling element is free to move to its urged position.

7. A film signal device as embodied in claim 6 wherein two of the members arev of disk form disposed in side by sidev relation and are of respectively diierent diameters,

and the other member is in the form of a `peripheral cam interposed between the disksdisk. v e

FRED WQGAGE. ALBERT W. TONDREAU. 

